"Kampungku Indonesia": Book Reviews

"Your work depicts the way of life in Indonesian villages that will change dramatically in the next few years. You document that moment in a book that will one day serve as a record of those who lived at the time." (Taubah)

Kampungku Indonesia will soon be out of print. There are only about 300 copies left of the original print run of 2000. To purchase, go to this link.

Review by Neez Moksin

It's not easy to convey an opinion when your mind is clouded with the deep grief of losing someone dear to your heart. I have been in that aloof state of mind for quite a while. Let alone to give reviews on a book! 

But as I flipped through the pages of "Kampungku Indonesia", a gorgeous hardcover photobook by my friend Stefano Romano, all my somberness dissipated slowly.  The flow of words and images of vibrant photos fluttered into my mind and brought a tranquilizing effect on me. Never have I felt so peaceful at seeing eager faces of the children playing, smiling, and laughing. It instantly catapulted me to my happy childhood memories of playing by the paddy field and the river. I find it truly spellbindingly powerful and actually brought a smile even in my darkest moment.  

I particularly love this phrase: 

"Suasana hangat di rumah-rumah menjadi kian akrab dan penuh dengan wewangian bunga dan rempah. Pintu-pintu tertutup, kehidupan terus berlangsung di jalanan, orang-orang tetap berjualan di pasar, karena kampung tidak punya jadwal, setiap saat engkau bisa berbelanja, makan, berjualan. Nyaris berharap bahwa hidup tanpa fajar dan senja, awal dan akhir, melainkan bergerak dalam lingkaran tak berujung." (p.48) 

A perfect rhapsody of what kampung life is and a great reminder to me that the continuity of life is inevitable for it doesn't stop at one point but only to begin with the next. Congratulations! 

Brunei Darussalam, 3 November 2021

Review by Norbaini Dolbakkri

"A picture is a secret."

“The country you provide, the village you live in, the house you live in is art ..... The air you breathe, the water you soak in, the campfire you hold for the warmth of hanging out, is art." - Sujiwo Tejo (journalist, painter, author)

The combination of abstract art, warm love, and sweet light catch the reader’s eye at once for the “homecoming of the soul" or "mudik jiwa" to the hometown.

Honestly, I have traveled half of Indonesia with this book even though the Covid-19 pandemic limited travel across the country.

The cover of this book has displayed the village atmosphere which is highly admired by the author.

Coupled with the color of the Indonesian flag inside this book ignited my passion for getting to know further.

"A picture is a secret about a secret, the more it tells you the less you know."- Diane Arbus

Consists of 4 interesting chapters.

1- Life in the village

2- Village children

3-Sweet Light in the village

4-Mother's Love and the Story of the Village People

Armed with art, love, and light, the writer finds the soul of Indonesians in a narrow alley, bordered by paddy fields and wells full of activities.

The secrets of life in the increasingly forgotten village are carefully aimed so that each image carries its own message and can evoke our emotions and empathy.

The subject of photos full of surprises from the faces of women and children on the streets and studies can shatter the writer’s prejudices. A clear vision on the problem of poverty and education is used as a platform to build a better Indonesia in the future.

"The more children smile, the fewer children cry."

The discovery of Islam's sweet light in a small house in the narrow alley of Kampung Slipi, Jakarta is a secret that presents a dimly moody yet meaningful photo that Islam teaches us to always seek the light.

"Mother is the first school to the children."

The author concludes the book by asserting that the short time intervals marked by the camera diaphragm's rapid movement are a “secret” hidden in photography.

You MUST have this book to see the portraits of Indonesia hidden behind the villages and towns that are beginning to change. There is definitely something to be learned.

"There will be no village as clean as this on the mountain if there is no harmony among its inhabitants." -Pramoedya Ananta Toer

Kuala Lumpur, 06 April 2021

172 pages / Hardcover / 21 x 27 cm / Fullcolor / Language: Indonesia / I
SBN: 978-979-433-945-9 / July 2016. Click here to order